Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in increasing the number of ports designated as points of entry for goods covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

In the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Government has recently made provision to increase the number of ports designated as points of entry for goods covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) from 10 to 25. The full list can be found on the Government’s website:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/trading-cites-listed-species-through-uk-ports-and-airports-after-brexit.

The increase in the number of CITES designated ports is one part of the Government’s wider strategy to ensure that we are able to respond to a significant increase in demand for CITES related inspection and certification in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal. It balances our commitment to delivering on our international obligations to protect endangered species with the need to ensure the smooth functioning of our ports.